the Third Week of Advent
Click here to join the effort!
Read the Bible
English Standard Version
Mark 13
Jesus Foretells Destruction of the Temple
1 (a)And as he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher, what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" 2 And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? (b)There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down."
Signs of the End of the Age
3 And as he sat on (c)the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, (d)Peter and James and John and (e)Andrew asked him (f)privately, 4 "Tell us, (g)when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be accomplished?" 5 And Jesus began to say to them, (h)"See that no one leads you astray. 6 (i)Many will come in my name, saying, (j)‘I am he!' and they will lead many astray. 7 And when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, (k)do not be alarmed. This (l)must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For (m)nation will rise against nation, and (n)kingdom against kingdom. There will be (o)earthquakes in various places; there will be (p)famines. These are but the beginning of the birth pains.
9 (q)"But (r)be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten (s)in synagogues, and you will stand before (t)governors and (u)kings for my sake, (v)to bear witness before them. 10 And the gospel must first be proclaimed (w)to all nations. 11 And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, (x)do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say (y)whatever is given you in that hour, (z)for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. 12 (aa)And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. 13 (ab)And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. (ac)But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Abomination of Desolation
14 "But when you see (ad)the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not to be ((ae)let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15 (af)Let the one who is on (ag)the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, 16 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 17 And (ah)alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 18 Pray that it may not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be (ai)such (aj)tribulation as has not been (ak)from the beginning of the creation that (al)God created until now, and never will be. 20 And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for (am)the sake of the elect, whom (an)he chose, he shortened the days. 21 And (ao)then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!' or ‘Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22 (ap)For false christs and false prophets will arise and (aq)perform signs and wonders, (ar)to lead astray, if possible, (as)the elect. 23 But (at)be on guard; (au)I have told you all things beforehand.
The Coming of the Son of Man
24 "But in those days, after (av)that tribulation, (aw)the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and (ax)the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see (ay)the Son of Man coming in clouds (az)with great power and glory. 27 And then (ba)he will send out the angels and (bb)gather (bc)his elect from (bd)the four winds, from (be)the ends of the earth (bf)to the ends of heaven.
The Lesson of the Fig Tree
28 "From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, (bg)at the very gates. 30 (bh)Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 (bi)Heaven and earth will pass away, but (bj)my words will not pass away.
No One Knows That Day or Hour
32 "But concerning that day or that hour, (bk)no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, (bl)nor the Son, (bm)but only the Father. 33 (bn)Be on guard, (bo)keep awake.[a] For you do not know when the time will come. 34 (bp)It is like a man (bq)going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants[b] in charge, (br)each with his work, and commands (bs)the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 (bt)Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, (bu)in the evening, or (bv)at midnight, or (bw)when the rooster crows,[c] or (bx)in the morning— 36 lest (by)he come suddenly and (bz)find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: (ca)Stay awake."
English Standard Version
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®). ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.